ARTI Mobile App
2025
Role: UX & Product Designer (Solo Project)
Duration: 16 weeks
Tools: Figma, Adobe Photoshop
Services: Product Design, UX/UI Design, Creative Direction,
Content Strategy, Brand Identity
Case Study
As both a visual artist and designer, I set out to solve a problem I knew intimately. ARTI is a conceptual app I created to address the everyday challenges artists face, from scattered deadlines to disjointed portfolios and inconsistent sales. Built by an artist, for artists, ARTI streamlines the often-overlooked side of creative life: admin, organisation, and visibility.
The idea was born out of personal frustration. I found myself juggling commissions, exhibitions, and constant content creation with little structure. My portfolio lived in too many places, and there was no single, intuitive system to manage the demands of a working artist. So, I designed what I needed: a virtual assistant for creatives — a clean, centralised space where artists can track their work, manage submissions, and share their practice with the world.
One of the core challenges was finding a balance between function and beauty. Artists are visual thinkers, often averse to clunky systems. The interface needed to be elegant but unobtrusive, empowering without overwhelming. I approached the UX with care, ensuring that every element felt familiar, purposeful, and adaptable to different workflows.
ARTI also explores how technology can deepen the relationship between artist and audience. Beyond management tools, the app offers opportunities for discovery, allowing collectors and supporters to engage with artists directly — not through noisy third-party platforms, but within a curated, respectful space.
Though still a concept, ARTI reflects my belief in design as a bridge, one that connects creativity with clarity, and vision with value. The project stands as both a design case study and a personal manifesto: artists deserve tools that honour their process, not hinder it.
ARTI
Explained in under 2 minutes.
An app built by an artist, for artists.
ARTI helps artists stay on top of admin,
build a clean digital portfolio, and sell their work
All in one place.
The Problem
As a visual artist myself, I know how chaotic creative life can get. Between commissions, competitions, exhibitions, and posting online, the admin takes a backseat. Many artists struggle to stay organised or sell their work consistently. Meanwhile, art lovers seek more effective ways to discover and support creatives.
The Opportunity
How can we create a tool that functions like a virtual assistant for artists, connecting them with individuals who are interested in
purchasing their artwork?
The Spark
The idea came from my own frustration. I had work piling up, deadlines scattered across notebooks and emails, and no easy way to share my portfolio. I wanted something intuitive, a space where I could manage everything, from sharing new work to preparing for exhibitions. So I designed what I needed.
Research & Insights
To understand if other artists felt the same, I interviewed 8 artist friends and surveyed 20 creatives.
85% said the admin gets in the way of making art
65% don’t have an up-to-date portfolio.
90% are interested in an app that combines task tracking, portfolio display, and social media sharing.
Visual: Pie chart showing artist pain points and desires (Admin overwhelm, Lack of portfolio, etc.)
Making Sense of It All, I used affinity mapping to cluster feedback into themes
Pain Points — Admin overload, scattered deadlines
Desires — Simple portfolio builder, sales platform, reminders
Behaviors — Most artists post on Instagram but don’t archive their work anywhere permanent
Meet Our Users
Primary User: The ARTIst needs a way to track deadlines, update portfolios, and share work easily.
Secondary User: The ARTI Lover wants to follow favorite artists, buy original work, and explore new creatives.
As an art lover, I want to…
Discover and follow new artists
Save and buy art I love
Share collections with friends
User Goals
As an artist, I want to…
Manage deadlines
Share and update my portfolio easily
Sell my work with minimal hassle
From Ideas to Interfaces
I started sketching how different users might interact with the app, uploading artwork, browsing portfolios, creating wishlists, and purchasing.
After building wireframes in Figma, I conducted usability tests with 6 users.
What I learned:
Artists wanted fewer steps when uploading work.
Buyers appreciated the clean layout but wanted more filtering options.
Based on feedback, I simplified the look and feel of the app and added wishlist categories according to Artists and Artworks.
Final Design: ARTI
Named “ARTI” because we’re all a bit… arty.
The final UI is minimal and calming, free of visual noise, allowing the artwork to shine and keeping admin tools intuitive and out of the way.
Reflection
This project taught me how layered an artist’s life really is, and how good design can ease the chaos.
Building ARTI made me reflect not only on UX, but on what artists truly need behind the scenes.
Want to Connect?
Reach out at: viola.greyling1@gmail.com
